Hurricane Relief

FEMA: Minimizing Hurricane Risks

Hurricane season begins June 1 and we’ve already experienced, Alberto, the first named storm system, but it’s not too late for citizens to protect themselves and their families during severe weather. Since the mid 1800’s when the National Weather Service began officially recording hurricanes, 54 hurricanes have directly hit Louisiana. That’s why it’s important for residents living…

FEMA: President Trump Extends Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration

FEMA announced today that additional disaster assistance is available to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This assistance allows for additional funding at a 100 percent federal cost share for limited emergency protective measures, which is retroactive to Friday, May 18. Today’s action includes a 90-day extension for emergency power restoration, and a 120-day extension for…

FEMA: U.S. Virgin Island Disaster Survivors Eligible for Additional Federal Disaster Assistance

The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that additional disaster assistance is available to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The assistance allows for additional federal funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, hazard mitigation and permanent infrastructure restoration as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This…

HUD: FHA Extends Foreclosure Moratorium for Hurricane Maria Victims

Additional 90-day relief to help eligible FHA-insured families in Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands For the third time since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that the agency is extending its foreclosure moratorium to borrowers with FHA-insured mortgages. This extended foreclosure moratorium is…

FEMA: In Florida? Learn Disaster Preparation Tips in Your Language

Hurricane Season Begins June 1 With hurricane season beginning shortly, it’s important for all Floridians to develop a plan about how to react before, during and after a disaster. Florida’s more than 20 million residents speak many languages. The state is also the most vulnerable in the country for hurricanes with nearly 120 in recorded…

FEMA: Disaster Assistance Tops $50 Million to Florida Government and Nonprofits

The state and FEMA continue collaborating to bring federal disaster dollars to Florida for Hurricane Irma-related expenses. The agency’s Public Assistance program has provided Florida more than $50 million to reimburse local governments and certain nonprofits for disaster-related projects. Below are examples of the funding so far: Monroe County: about $3.3 million for emergency response…

FEMA: Every Florida Business Should Have a Disaster Preparedness Plan

There is much that a business leader can do to prepare his or her organization for likely hazards. Many parts of the United States, including Florida, may be directly affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. The Ready Business program helps business managers make a disaster plan before the June 1 start of the hurricane season….

FEMA: Now Is the Time to Prepare Financially for Hurricane Season

Survivors at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after hurricanes Irma and María. Financial preparedness is an essential part of 2018 hurricane season planning. Being financially prepared means you should: Consider the costs associated with disasters such as insurance deductibles and evacuation costs, and plan for those costs. Anticipate initial…

SBA: Victors over Catastrophe Honored with SBA’s 2018 Phoenix Award

South Carolina business owners who rebounded after losing their entire inventory after a massive flood, Houston bakery owners who quickly reopened despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, a Texas mayor who navigated the town’s recovery after Hurricane Harvey, and a volunteer who organized the debris removal of a Georgia town hit by three massive…

FEMA: Recovery Progress Continues in Puerto Rico with Agreement on Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Guide

FEMA Administrator Brock Long announced today that FEMA and the Government of Puerto Rico have coordinated the guidelines for permanent work restoration in Puerto Rico. FEMA is releasing the “Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Guide for Permanent Work (Section 428)” document specifically for permanent work projects in Puerto Rico. Using these procedures, FEMA will develop fixed-cost…